Fire extinguishing system



March 6, 1951 c. A. GETZ 2,544,016

FIRE EXTINGUISHINC SYSTEM Filed Sept. 28, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet l fiarlesielz March 6, 1951 6511 2,544,016

m; EXTINGUISHINC SYSTEM Filed Sept. 28, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 K: $2. 4 m m March 6, 1951 c. A. GETZ FIRE EXTINGUISHINC SYSTEM Filed Sept. 28, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 di a J7 -59 .50 I -52 av 15 17 if l 53 57 44 424 56 I M 4s 1 a 50 A 4.9 E 7 r 4.73 gwuwrvbw 16 m M1014. Gelz March 6, 1951 c. A. GETZ FIRE EXTINGUISHINC SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 28, 1942 \W rW mug Patented Mar. 6, 1951 FIRE nxrmomsnmo srs'rrim Charles A. Getz, Glen Ellyn, 111., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Cardox Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application September as, 1942, Serial No. 459,994

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in fire extinguishing systems employing carbon dioxide as the extinguishing medium.

The fire extinguishing method disclosed and claimed in the patent to Eric Geertz, numbered 2,143,311, and issued January 10, 1939, deals with confining any desired quantity of liquid carbon dioxide in an insulated storage tank and maintaining the liquid at any preselected subatmospheric temperature, and its corresponding low vapor pressure until used.

Prior to the development of this patented method, liquid carbon dioxide employed in fire extinguishing systems was always confined in one or more relatively small, uninsulated cylinders. As the cylinders were directly exposed to the surrounding atmosphere, the temperature of the carbon dioxide stored therein varied considerably and the pressure was usually well over one thousand pounds per square inch. Conventional carbon dioxide cylinders used in fire extinguishing systems were capable of storing from fifty to seventy pounds of liquid which required a bank of from forty to thirty cylinders for each ton of extinguisher capacity.

Because of the high pressures at which the carbon dioxide was stored in such prior commercial systems, the only practical means that was ever developed for controlling the release of the medium consisted of a sealing disc for each cylinder and a reciprocating cutter that had to be forcibly propelled to cause it to puncture the disc. The disc cutter of at least one cylinder of each bank had to be operated by some external source of power, such as a dropped weight, an exploded powder charge, or a manually delivered blow. In some systems the carbon dioxide released from one or more cylinders of a bank was employed as the source of power for operating the cutters of the remaining cylinders. It will be appreciated, however, that regardless of the source of power employed and the mechanism utilized to reciprocate the cutters by means of such power, each fifty to seventy pounds of carbon dioxide delivered to the pipe lines of a fire extinguishing system required the operation of a separate release mechanism.

The use of low, uniform pressure liquid carbon dioxide from a single storage tank in fire protection systems has now made it possible to employ a single valve for effecting complete control of the release of all, or any portion of the carbon dioxide from the storage tank. This single,

or closed as a result of direct manual control or its opening and closing may be accomplished as a result of automatic detection of a fire by means of thermo-responsive devices, or the like.

When two or more hazards are to be separate ly protected by a single system, the ability to employ a master valve to control the release of the carbon dioxide from the storage tank into the header, or distribution manifold, of the piping and supplemental selector valves to control the delivery of the carbon dioxide from the header to the individual hazards makes it possible to provide a non-pressure header; 1. e., a header that is not filled with and subject to the pressure of the extinguishing medium except when the system is being operated to extinguish a fire. Because of that fact, the various selector valves normally are not relied upon to onfine the carbon dioxide in the storage tank. The master control valve, therefore, is the only one which must be maintained bubble-tight; i. e., capable of preventing leakage of the carbon dioxide.

The use of valves for effecting release of the carbon dioxide into the pipe line header and for effecting fiow from the header through one or more branch pipe lines makes it possible to employ electric circuits and their devices for detecting fires and controlling the opening and closing of said valves.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a fire extinguishing system which employs as the extinguishing medium carbon dioxide confined at a controlled temperature and pressure in an insulated storage tank, and which employs valves for completely controlling the delivery of the carbon dioxide to the one or more hazards protected by the system.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a system of the aforementioned type in which electric circuits and devices are normally employed for detecting fire at one or more hazards and for automatically effecting opening of a master control valve and the proper selector valve or valves associated with the threatened hazard or hazards.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an automatic, electrically controlled system with means which will permit both the master and the selector valves to be manually controlled without in any way disturbing the electric con trol mechanism.

A still further principal object of the invention is to provide means for automatically placing the system under full manual control in case of or master, control valve may be either opened III failure of electric power.

ofthisspecificatlonandinwhichlikenumerals are employed to designate like parts throu h ut the same,

Figurelisa Y: ticviewofthefireexsystem this invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the master control valve which is normally employed for maintaining the carbon dioxide confined in its storage tank whereby the distribution header will be of the non-pressure type.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the type of selector valve employed for controlling the fiow of the extinguishing medium from the header to a hazard threatened by fire,

Figure 4 is a partly elevational view and partly vertical sectional view of a form of pilot valve which will function to automatically effect opening of the master control valve and conversion of the non-pressure header to a pressure header upon failure of the electric power,

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4, and

Figures 6 and 7 are detail perspective views of elements incorporated in the electric control in of Figs. 4 and 5.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of iilustration isshown the preferred embodiment of this invention, and first particularly referring to Fig. 1, the reference characters A and B designate two diflerent fire hazards which are to be given fire protection by the extinguishing system embodyins this invention. These hazards are specifically illustrated as being enclosed spaces but it is to be understood that the system is not limited in its use to the protection of this type of hazard. By employing different types or sizes and different arrangements of discharge devices, any kinds of hazards may be protected by this extinguishing system. The hazards A and B are illustrated as being of diflerent sizes. This type of illustration is intended to show that the system is of such a flexible character that it can be employed for efliciently extinguishing fires or for protecting hazards which require different amounts of the extinguishing medium.

The proper amount of liquid carbon dioxide to aflord the desired protection for the hazards A and B is maintained in the insulated storage tank It. This liquid carbon dioxide is maintained at a desired subatmospheric temperature, and its corresponding vapor pressure, in accordance with the teachings of the aforementioned patent issued to Eric Geertz. The amount of liquid carbon dioxide stored in the tank lli may be sufilcient for providing the following types of discharges:

1. A single discharge that will eilect extinguishment of a fire in only one of the two hazards A and B.

2. A single discharge for each one of the two hazards A and B with no reserve for extinguishingafireineitherhazardincaseofareflash.

3. A two shot" discharge for one of the two hazards which will effect extinguishment of a fire and provide additional protection in case of a refiash.

4. A two shot" discharge for each one of the two hazards.

Ofcourse,thesizeofthestoragetank ltwill determine the quantity of liquid carbon dioxide that is provided for protecting the hazards. The

tank II. the higher The character of various hazards to be tected, their 1oca-= tion with respect to other, and other factors which will be apparent to skilled in the art will govern the amount of liquid carbon provide adequate protection for the hazards.

A dip-tube or pipe ll extends into the storage tank III for providing the discharge pipe line I! with liquid carbon dioxide. This pipe line has pipe line I: is connected to the master control valve M which is normally relied upon to keep the carbon dioxide confined in the storage tank Ill and to keep pressure oi! oi. the header, or distribution pining I! which connects the master control valve it with the selector valves it. These selector valves function, after opening of the master control valve It, to deliver the carbon dioxide to the proper hazard or hazards through the branch lines I1 and their discharge devices I when the detail features of construction of the master control valve 14 and the selector valves it are described in connection with the disclosures of Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that these valves are of the solenoid controlled type. The master control valve I4 is provided with a solenoid control unit its. The selector valves it are each provided with a solenoid control unit Illa. It will be seen that the solenoid control units Ila and its are of identical construction and are susceptible of interchangeable attachment to the master control valve It and the selector valves It. The master control valve solenoid unit Ila is provided with electric wires it which connect the coil of this solenoid with suitable circuit making,

breaking and holding relays, of conventional design and operation, located in the electric control box 20. Wires II and 22 connect the solenoid control units lid of the two selector valves it with proper relay devices in the control box ill; No attempt has been made to illustrate the specific relay devices which are confined within the box 20 because suitable units are readily available on the open market and any skilled electrician should be able to select the proper types and sizes of circuit controls and interconnect them in a proper manner to accomplish the results which will be set forth as the description of this system proceeds.

Power supply lines II extend from a suitable source of supply to the terminals 24 of the doublem pull, single-throw switch 25. when this switch is closed, current will be supplied the various in- :trumentalities in the box 20 through the wires Each one of the two hazards A and B is provided with a suitable number of circuit closing, fire detecting devices 21. The fire detecting devices 21 for each hazard are connected in parallel with the circuit wires 28 which extend to the electric control box Ill. Each one of these fire 7o detecting devices 21 will be capable of functionin to close the circuit between it respective wires it when said device 21 is subjected to a certain degree of temperature, or a certain rate-of-rise of temperature as a result of a fire in the hazard 76 p mbed by the detecting device 21.

Each one or the fire detecting circuits, formed by the wires 18. may be closed by a manual switch that is diagrammatically illustrated at 2,9. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the extinguishment of a fire in either or the two hazards A and B may be accomplished without actuation of any one 01' the automatic heat detecting devices 21 in case a person discovers a fire before the temperature created by the fire has risen to a value which will actuate a detector 21.

To briefly describe the operation of the portion 01' the flre extinguishing system so far referred to, it will be explained that should a fire be detected either manually or automatically in either one of the hazards A and B, the proper detection circuit 28 will be closed for that hazard. The closing of that particular detector circuit will bring about operation of the instrumentalities in the box 20 to close the circuit to the solenoid control unit Ila oi the master control valve ll through its circuit wires It. A circuit will also be established to the solenoid control unit lid of the selector valve ii that is operatively associated with the hazard that is threatened by the fire. This selector valve circuit will be closed either through the wires 2| or the wires 22. The closing of these solenoid circuits will bring about opening operations of the master control'valve ll and the particular selector valve IS. The liquid carbon dioxide then will ilow from the storage tank ill through the delivery pipe line I! to the master control valve I4 and through this valve into the header l5. Although the entire header will be filled with the carbon dioxide, discharge from the same will only occur through the selector valve it that has had its solenoid control unit energized to effect opening of the valve. Flow of the carbon dioxide will continue through the opened selector valve l8 into the branch pipe line I! and from this pipe line to the hazard through the discharge device It.

By employing a Time Cycle Controller 01 the type disclosed in the Joseph H. Staley Patent, numbered 2,141,024 in the electric control box 20 for closing and opening the circuits to the solenoid control units of the master control valve it and the proper selector valve l6, these valves may be held open for only a certain length of time and then automatically closed. By empioying this type of timed control, it will be appreelated that a fire can be extinguished in either of the two hazards without exhausting all of the carbon dioxide stored in the tank Ill. It further will be noted that the discharge devices 18 for the two hazards A and B ar of difierent sizes,

a smaller discharge device being employed for the smaller hazard B. As the rate oi discharge of the carbon dioxide into a hazard will depend on the size of the discharge device l8 associated with that hazard, the amount of carbon dioxide discharged into a hazard for a iven length oi time can be controlled by the size of the discharge device. The size of a selector valve I i and its branch pipe l1 also can be employed for controllin the rate of discharge of the carbon dioxide to a hazard.

When the detail features of construction of the master control valve it are fully described in connection with the disclosure of Fig. 2, it will further be understood that this valve is opened as a result of the creation of a diilerential fluid pressure condition within the valve housing. This valve opening, difi'erential fiuid pressure condition is created by the admission oi fluid pressure to the portion llb or the master control valve housing.

Fluid pressure can be delivered to the valve housing portion llb from the delivery pipe line it through the coupling 30 and either the branch line II or the branch line 32. The branch line II is controlled by a manual valve 33 so that the master control valve can be caused to open by manual operation of the valve 33. The flow oi fiuid pressure through the branch line 32 into the master control valve housing portion Mb is controlled by the valve 34. This valve is normally held closed by the electrical device 35 which is normally energized by the flow of current through the circuit wires 38. This electrical control device 35 is illustrated in detail in Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive and will be fully described at a later point. It will be explained at this time, however, that whenever there occurs a failure of power the electric control device 35 will become deenergized so that it will no longer hold the valve 3! closed. This value will then open and deliver fluid pressure to the housing portion It!) or the master control valve II. This master control valve then will be opened long enough to change the normally non-pressure header It to a pressure header; 1. e., the carbon dioxide will fill the header l5 up to the selector valves it. After the pressure in the header [5 is equalized with the pressure in the delivery pipe line II, the master control valve I will close. The pressure in the header will be maintained equalized with the pressure in the delivery pipe line I2 as long as the valve 34 stays open. Any subsequent rapid drop in pressure that occurs in the header, such as would take place if a selector valve were opened, will cause the master control valve to open automatically so that carbon dioxide will be delivered to the hazard associated with the opened selector valve. This manual operation of a selector valve can be accomplished by the attachment lib. This manual operating mechanism for a. selector valve will be described in detail in connection with the disclosure of Fig. 3.

The master control valve It will remain closed after the branch line valve 34 is closed. Therefore, by discharging the carbon dioxide in the header l5 by opening one of the selector valves l8, the system may be returned to its normal condition; that is, with the header IS in a nonpressure condition.

Of course, if the valve 3 is opened as a result of deenergizing of the electric device 35 by failure of the electric power and the master valve I4 is operated to convert the non-pressure header i! into a pressure header, the selector valves IE will automatically function in response to detection of a fire in a hazard if the power supply comes back on and the electric device 35 is not immediately reset. In other words, the selector valves it are capable of responding to automatic detection of a fire by the detecting devices 21 regardless of whether the master valve It is opened as a result of energization of its solenoid control unit Ha, through theoperation of the detecting device 21, or is opened as a result of the pressure drop that is caused by the opening of the selector valve.

A fire may occur at a time when either one or both of the electric detecting circuits for the hazards are out of commission. The system then can be entirely manually operated. The master valve ll can be opened by opening the manual valve It and either or both of the selector valves more It willbe noted by inspecting llg; i. that the branch pipe line is provided with a check valve 51 while the short length of pipe 55 which is common to both or the branch lines 5| and 52 is provided with a check valve 35. The functions performed by these check valves 51 and 56 will be explained in connection with the detafled descriptions or the master valve I4 and the electric device 55.

The master control valve l4 now will be described in detail in connection with the disclosure of Fig. 2. The delivery pipe line i2 is suitably connected to the inlet side 46 of the valve body or casing 4 I. The header or distributing pipe I5 is suitably connected to the outlet side 42 of the valve casing 4|. A partition 43 separates the inlet and outlet sides 46 and 42 of the valve casing. This partition is provided with an opening or aperture 44 in which is threadedly mounted a seat 45. This type of valve construction inherently functions to cause the pressure of the fluid flowing through the partition opening to drop so that the pressure of the fluid flowing in the outlet 42 will be substantially less than the pressure of the fluid flowing in the inlet 46. A valve 46 is adapted to engage the seat 45, through the medium of its seating ring 41, to prevent the flow of the carbon dioxide through the partition opening 44. The valve 46 is guided in its seating and unseating movements by means of a plunger 46 that is movable in the cylinder 46. A valve loading spring 56 normally functions to urge the valve 46 toward the seat 46. It will be appreciated that the pressure of the carbon dioxide in the inlet side 46 of the valve casing 4|, also, will normally function to hold seated the valve 46.

The valve casing 4| has suitably connected thereto the fluid pressure casing |4b which was referred to in connection with the description of the disclosure of Fig. 1. This pressure casing portion is provided with a cylinder 56' in which is reciprocally mounted the fluid pressure piston 5|. A piston rod 52 forms a part of the piston 5| and is connected at its lower end to the valve rod or stem 56. The piston rod 52 is provided with a bore 54 that communicates with the pressure chamber 55 that is formed between the upper end of the piston 5| and the closed end 56 of the pressure casing Mb. The valve rod 53 also is provided with a bore 51 which communicates with the bore 54 of the piston rod and is provided with lateral ports 56 that provide communication between the outlet side 42 of the partition 46 and the valve rod bore 51. A plug 55 is threaded in the upper end of the piston rod bore 54 and is provided with a relatively small port or aperture 66. This port or aperture 66 is of proper diameter to control the rate of flow of fluid from the pressure chamber 55 into the bores 54 and 51 and through the ports 56 into the outlet side 42 of the valve casing 4|.

A by-pass duct 6| is formed in the walls of the valve casing 4| and the fluid pressure casing |4b for providing a flow path between th inlet side 46 of the valve casing 4| and a chamber 62 that is formed between the closed end 56 of the pressure casing MD and the base or boss 63 o! the solenoid control unit I40. The closed end 56 of the fluid pressure casing |4b is provided with an opening 64 in which is mounted an apertured plug 65. The aperture of this plug is of spring 56.

plugflsothat fluidcanbeadmitted tothepressurechamberILbywayoitheW- pass 6| and the chamber 6!, at a mor rapid rate than it can flow out oi the pressure chamber 55 through the bores 54 and 51 or thepiston stem 52 and valve stem 55.

A pilot valve 55 is adapted to cooperate with the upper end of the apertured plug 65 for opening and closing the aperture through the plug tocontrol the flow of carbon dioxide from the chamber 62 into the pressure chamber 55. This pilot valve 66 is operated by the armature 61 of the solenoid coil 66. It will be seen by inspecting Fig. 2 that the solenoid coil 65 is detachably threadediy connected at 66a to the base or boss 65. When this solenoid coil is energized through the wires l6 the armature 61 will be raised for unseatins the pilot valve 66'. When the coil 65 is de-energized, the armature 61 will seat the pilot valve 66. It will be appreciated, therefore, that when the solenoid coil 66 is energized to unseat the pilot valve 66, carbon dioxide will be permitted to flow through the by-pass 6| into the chamber 62 and through the'aperture oi the plug 65 into the pressure chamber 55. As the diameter of this chamber, and the piston 5|, is greater than the diameter of the valve 46, the carbon dioxide pressure built up in the pressure chamber 55 will cause the valve to be unseated against the fluid pressure applied to the valve and the force of the valve loading spring 56. After the valve 46 is unseated by the fluid pressure developed in the pressure chamber 55, it will be held open until the supply of fluid pressure to chamber 55 is stopped. This is due to the fact that the pressure of the fluid on the outlet side 42 of the valve partition 45, which pressure is acting on the lower face of the powermiston 5|, is substantially less than the pressure developed in the pressure chamber 55, which pressure is acting on the uper face of the power piston 5|. This difference in the fluid pressures in the outlet 42 and the chamber 55 is sufiicient to overpower the When the solenoid coil 66 is de-energized, the pilot valve 66 will be seated and flow of carbon dioxide from the valve casing inlet 46 into the pressure chamber 55 will cease. The carbon dioxide pressure built up in the chamber 55 will then bleed oil through the aperture opening 66 of the plug 56 into the bores 54 and 51 of the piston rod 52 and valve rod 53. This pressure will be dissipated in the outlet side of the valve casing 4|. After the pressure has dropped sui'hciently in the chamber 55, the valve 46 will be seated by the spring 56 and the carbon dioxide pressure in the inlet side 46 or the valve casing 4|. 0! course, opening of the valve 46 will permit the carbon dioxide to flow into the outlet side 42 of the valve casing 4| and into the header i5.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the delivery pipe I2 has a short length of pipe 66 coupled thereto and this pipe is connected to one branch of the coupling 16. This coupling 16 connects the short pipe 66 to the two branch lines 3| and 32. Carbon dioxide pressure, therefore, will constantly be applied to both of the branch lines.

The branch line 6| has connected therein an ordinary manual valve 66 which is capable of being opened and closed. This manual valve 63 will control the flow of carbon dioxide through the branch line 5| to the check valve 51. This check valve is connected to the coupling H by greater diameter than the aperture 66 of the 1 the nipple 12. The short pipe section, with its a check valve is, is connected to a second branch ture II to receive the set screw ll. One end or or the coupling 1i while the branch line 32 is the lever is provided with an aperture l and a connected to the third branch of the coupling ll. concentric recess or socket Ill, The remaining The short pipe section II is tapped into the end portion of the lever is cut away at II to form opening 13 that directly communicates with the the two shoulders 8!. pressure chamber 85 formed in the pressure cas- A cap screw 93 is secured to the bottom wall ing Mb. of the box I! and passes through the aperture It will be appreciated, therefore, that when the 9 0f he ev I w 611011811 61891111109 $0 P manual pilot valve 33 is opened carbon dioxide wit h lever to r ck 0 D v r ative to the will flow from the .delivery pipe I: through the 1 s rew- A p n 94 is o i ned o r the can branch line 3| and through both of the check screw 93 o a to e i l wer end seated in valves in and is into the pressure chamber at. the recess or k t in f rmed in the main lever Pressure will develop in this latter chamber and All il fl nut BI is threaded on the free the valve 46 will be unseated. When the manual end of the n screw il for adjusting he f rce 1 developed by the spring 94. A stop 86 cooperates pilot valve 33 is again c osed, the pressure built with the spring 10a de d and of the lever no to t 4 1 I w a am movement 01' the lever. the bores 5 and 5 and the g; "f f i The shoulders 9! of the main lever 86 are adapted to be engaged by the fingers 91 of the gig g g igzi ig from the denverypipe m trip levers 88. These two trilp levers are or. When the electrically controlled pilot valve 34 ranged in parallelism and are p Votany connected is opened, carbon dioxide will flow through the at their 1wer ends to the mounting blogk branch line 32 into the coupling H and through by means the pm The upper ends the short pipe section 38, and its check valve 89,

ceiving the transverse pin it: that is carried by the pressure chamber 55 for building up the projecting end oi the solenoid armature illl. Pressure this latter chamber unseat the This armature forms a part of the solenoid I" valve. It will be appreciated that the check valve that is supplied with current than n the circuit 31 will function to prevent carbon dioxide from wires 3' s Fig. 1 discloses these circuit wires as extendline 3| up to the. discharge side of the manual 80 mg from the main supply wires 2 It Wm be pilot Valve The check valve therefore appreciated, therefore, that as long as current functions to reduce the volume or pipe capacity that must be filled with carbon dioxide when the fig ggg f igggg fififaff branch l 31 is Opened by Opening of the solenoid coll its When the solenoid coil is en- Valve When the P Valve is again closed ergized its armature "M will be held in the posithe carbon dioxide pressure will be bled from tion milstrated In Fig 4 This posmon of t the chamber and the branch line dOWH- armaturewill hold the trip levers 98 in their stream of the closed valve 34, and the valve 48 proper positions fo engaging the shoulders 93 will be permitted tvcloseof the main valve control lever 86. Therefore,

The check v l 39 functmns to reduce the m the energized solenoid I05 and its trip levers 98 of the plug into the pressure chamber 55, the with its Se 11 a i flow of carbon dioxide into the branch lines 3! hon dioxidgtm 5%;? fig zfiz gzg 22 m The pilot valve 34 includes a main body D merit of the solenoid armature II will cause tion 14 which is hollowed out at 15 to form a t trip levers 95 t swing bout their pivot pin chamber. One end of this chamber is closed by m for moving their fingers 91 out oi engagethe cap 76 that is f m with valve seat 77 ment with the shoulders 92 of the valve control at the inner end of its bore two 1 lever 88. Release of this lever-88 at one end tions of the branch line 32 are coupled to the m permit t pressure of t carbon di id openings 19 and an of the main valve body 14 in the cap bare 1 and t spring a: t m v and the cap 16 respectively. A valve Si is posion t pilot valve body 3 away from t t 11 tioned within the chamber 15. This valve is c bo dioxide will t flow through the adapted engage the seat cut branch line :2 into the ressure hamber e munication between the two portions of the master control valve operating that $2 3 branch line 32 A spring ml'mally tends The solenoid operated trip mechanism will not valve BI and extends out of the chamber 15 and uafly reset t trip mechanism t cover platg into the interior of the box 84 of the electric I08 must be'removed from one end of the box control device 35. 84. An opening I01 is provided in the end oi the The end of the valve stem 83 which is located 10 box to permit access to be had to the lever 86 in the box as is engaged by an end or the ada d th ip levers 88 for resetting the some n Justable set screw 85. This set screw is carried e Positions illustrated n is 4 nd 5- by the main valve operating lever 88 which is One of the selector valves I8 is illustrated in shown in detail in Fig. 6. It will be seen that detail in Fig. 3. By comparing this selector valve this main lever is provided with a threaded aper- 78 showing with the showing of the master control valve manually.

valve II in Fitz,

selector valves.

The means for manually o ening the valve It against the pressure of its sprin It and the pressure of the carbon dioxide in the inlet portion It of the valve casing ll now will be described. The guiding piston or plunger I" for the valve l formation. The lower end of this threaded therein the plug It! which is suitably connected to the stem lill. This stem extends through an internally screw threaded opening Ill formed in the valve casing cap lit and is provided with a threaded portion III that engages the threads of the opening Ill. The valve stem extends through a packing gland ill to tion I II. The extremity of this portion is squared at I II for engag ment by a suitable socket wrench.

The valve cap H2 has the projection ill externally screw threaded for having the combined closure and socket wrench member HI threaded connected there that this member H8 is hollowed accommodate the projecting portion H8 and squared portion ill of the valve stem Ill. A packing gasket I is provided to prevent leakage past the screw threaded connection between the valve casing cap extension H1 and the member H8. It will be appreciated, therefore, that when the member H8 is arranged as shown in Fig. 3 it will function to prevent any possible leakage from the valve casing ll along the valve stem H0.

The socket wrench portion of the member ill consists of the element ill which is held in place by the pin I22. An operating wheel I28 is suitably attached to the member H8.

when it becomes desirable to open out at H! to the selector the combined closure and socket wrench member III is detached "from the cap extension ill by manipulation of the wheel If! to unscrew the member ill from the extension I ll. After the member II! is detached from the cap extension ill, the member can be turned end for end to engage the ocket wrench element iii with the squared end lit of the valve stem valve stem can be rotated by this member H8 for causing the threaded portion of the valve stem to move along the threaded bore iii of the cap H2. This outward movement of the valve stem ill! will pull the valve it away from its seat 45. This movement of the valve it away from its seat will not be accompanied by movement of the valve rod 53 and the piston 5| because of the loose telescopic joint ill.

It will be noted that the master control It is adapted for manual control through the medium of the branch line ii and the manual pilot valve I! whfle the selector valves are adapted for manual control through the medium of the manually operable socket wrench attachment itb. It will be appreciated, however, that both the master e and the selector valves may be of manually controlled and pilot valve structure or structure. as desired.

provide the projecting por It will be noted H0. The

I er connected to the angers It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of-parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, 1 claim:

1. A ilre extinguishin system for protecting a plurality of separate hazards. comprising a storage tank for supplying liquid carbon dioxide to the system, a delivery pipe extending from the tank, a master valve for controlling the flow of carbon dioxide through the delivery pipe, a header connected to the outlet of the master valve, a separate branch pipe line extending to each hazard from the header, a selector valve for controlling each branch pipe line, electrical means for effecting opening operation of the master valve and one selector valve for eflecting delivery of the carbon dioxide to the hazard associated with the opened selector valve, and means operating in response to failure of power to the electrical means for eflecting opening operation of the master valve independently of all of the selector valves for converting the non-pressure header to a pressure header so that the delivery of the carbon dioxide to the hazards may be controlled entirely by the selector valves.

2. A fire extinguishing system for protecting a plurality of separate hazards. comprising a storthe system, a tank, a master valve for controlling the flow of carbon dioxide through the delivery pipe, a head outlet of the master valve, a separate branch pipe line extending to each hazard from the header. a selector valve for controlling each branch plpe line, said master valve and selector valves being operated in response to the application thereto of diilerential fluid pressure, electrical means for effecting openin operation of the master valve and one selector valve for efiecting delivery of the carbon dioxide to the hazard associated with the opened selector valve, and means operating in response to failure of power to the electrical means for effectin opening operation of the master valve independently of all of the selector valves for convertin the non-pressure header to a pressure header so that the delivery of the carbon dioxide to the hazards may be controlled entirely by the selec tor valves.

3. A fire extinguishing system comprising a source of supply of liquid carbon dioxide, a piping system connecting said source of supply to a plurality of hazards and including a separate branch line for each hazard and a header common to all of the branch lines, a separate selector valve for controlling the flow of carbon dioxide through each branch line. a. master valve for controlling the flow of carbon dioxide from said source of supply into the common header. electrical means for effecting opening operation of the master valve, means operating in response to any failure of electric power to the electric means for effecting opening operation of the master valve independently of all of the selector valves for converting the non-pressure header to a pressure header so that the delivery of the carbon dioxide to the hazards may be controlled entirely by the selector valves, electrical means for eifecting opening operation of each one o! the selector valves whenever electric power is available and regardless of whether a previous, temporary failure of electric power has eilected opening of the master'valve, and means for manually enacting opening or the selector valves whenever electric power is not available.

4. A iire extinguishing system comprising a source of supply or liquid carbon dioxide, 0, piping system connecting said source of supply to a plurality of hazards and including a. separate branch line for each hazard and a header common to all the branch lines, a separate selector valve for controlling the flow of carbon dioxide through each branch line, a master valve for controlling the flow of carbon dioxide from said source of supply into the common header, electrical means for effecting opening and closing operations 01 the master valve, means operating in response to any failure 01' electric power to the electrical means, for effecting opening operation of the master valve independently of all 01' the selector valves for converting the non-pressure header to a pressure header so that the delivery of the carbon dioxide to the hazards may be controlled entirely by the selector valves, means for manually resetting the means that operates in response to electric power failure so as to eflect closing 01' the master valve, electric means for effecting opening and closing operations of each one of the selector valves whenever electric power is available and regardless of whether a previous, temporary failure of electric power has efiected opening of the master valve, and means for manuall efiecting opening and closing of the selector valves whenever electric power is not available.

5. A fire extinguishing system for protecting a plurality of separate hazards, comprising a storage tank for supplying liquid carbon dioxide to the system, a header extending from the tank, a master valve for controlling the flow of carbon dioxide from the tank to the header, a separate branch pipe line extending to each hazard from the header, a selector valve for controlling the flow of carbon dioxide through each branch pipe line, said master valve and selector valves each including means for effecting its opening and closing operations in response to the proper application thereto of difl'erential carbon dioxide pressure obtained from said tank, normally deenergized electrical means for controlling the application of said pressure to the said means of the master and selector valves to effect their opening and closin operations, and normally energized electrical means in addition to said normally deenergized electrical means for controlling the application of said pressure to only the said means of the master valve to eilect its opening operation for converting the normally non-pressure header to a pressure header so that the delivery of carbon dioxide to the hazards will be controlled entirely by the selector valves.

6. A fire extinguishing system for protecting a plurality of separate hazards, comprising a storage tankfor supplying liquid carbon dioxide to the system, a header extending from the tank, a master valve for controlling the flow of carbon dioxide from the tank to the header, a separate branch pipe line extending to each hazard from the header, a selector valve for controlling the flow of carbon dioxide through each branch pipe line, said master valve and selector valves each including means for efiecting its opening and closing operations in response to the proper applica- I tion thereto of diflerential carbon dioxide pressure obtained from said tank, electrical means for controlling the application oi said pressure to the said means of the master and selector valves to 14 eiiect their opening and closing operations, means operating in response to power failure to the electrical means for eflecting the application 01 only the said means or the master valve to eilect its opening operation to also convert the normally non-pressure header to a pressure header.

7. In a fire extinguishing distribution system, the combination with a source of compressed gas, a delivery pipe system therefore having a header with branches extending to diflerent points of use, a normally-closed piston operated selector valve for each branch, each including a by-pass pilot valve to admit header pressure to the piston thereof for opening the selector valves by the effect of said pressure admission, 0. normaliy closed master valve to control the admission of gas from said source into said pipe system and a by-pass duct and pilot valve for said master valve, of electric control means including a plurality of electromagnetic pilot valve operating units, one of said units being applied to each of said by-pass pilot valves, a plurality of switches respectively connected to the electromagnetic units of said selector valves. each switch controlling a circuit through one of said selector valve electromagnetic units and another circuit through the electromagnetic unit of said master valve, for energizing the said two units and thereby discharging gas through a selected branch of the system, an additional by-pass duct and pilot valve for the master valve to controllably admit gas pressure to the piston thereoi to open the master valve and deliver gas pressure to the header so that delivery of the carbon dioxide to the said branches may be controlled entirely by the selector valves, and means operating in response to the failure of power for the aforesaid electric control means for eflecting opening of thesaid additional pilot valve and in turn the master valve.

8. A flre extinguishing system, comprising a storage tank for supplying liquid carbon dioxide, a pipe line extending from the tank for delivering carbon, dioxide to the system, a valve for controlling the flow of carbon dioxide through the pipe line and being manually and automatically actuated, said valve including a body having an inlet and an outlet and a partition separating them, the partition having an opening therethrough, a cylinder, a piston movable in said cylinder in accordance with the carbon dioxide pressure therein,. a valve member operatively connected to the piston and adapted to be moved thereby to control flow through the partition opening, spring means normally maintaining the piston and valve member in a position where the valve member closes the partition opening, three by-pass ducts connecting the cylinder with the carbon dioxide supply in said tank, a first automatic means, operable in response to the detection of a fire, for controlling the flow of carbon dioxide through one of said by-pass ducts to the cylinder to overcome said spring and move'the valve member to open position, manual means for controlling the how of carbon dioxide through the second of said by-pass ducts to the cylinder to likewise overcome said spring and move the -valve member to open position. and a second automatic means, operable in response to aiailure oi the power motivatina the said lint automatic means, for controlling the now of carbon dioxide through the third of said by-paas ducts to the cylinder to likewise overcome said spring and move the valve member to open position.

9. In a system ior delivering a fire extinguishing medium to a plin'ality 0! separate hazards including a separate branch pipe line extending to each hazard. and a separate selector valve for controlling each branch pipe line, the improvement which comprises an extinsuiahing medium delivery pipe common to all or the branch pipe lines for the hazards. a master valve in said delivery pipe Ior controlling the now of the medium therethrough, normally deenergized electrical means for effecting opening operation of the master valve when energized, and normally energized electrical means for eflecting opening operation of the master valve when deenergized as a result oi iaiiure 0! power to the normally deenerzized electrical manna omme A. cm'rz.

REFERENCES orrnn The following reference: are of record-in the tile 0! this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS m Number Name Date Wolatencroit et al. Oct. 13, 1391 Boyd July 1, 1930 MoLaren Aug. 22, 1933 Allen et al. Dec. 10, 1935 Geertz Jan. 10, 1939 Roth Apr. 29, 1941 Papuleki July 26, 1942 Mapee Jan 12, 1843 Doxeey et al. Jan. 26, 1943 Grant, Jr Jan. 30,1945 

